In November of 2011, my friend Lisa asked me if I would come to O’ahu in January to be a part of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi‘s New Year’s ʻOhana Festival. She knew my story and wanted me to come share and sing as part of the festivities.

A chance to sing at a major festival in Hawai’i. An opportunity to leave wintery NYC for a few days and head to the warmth of O’ahu. A chance to be seen as a Hawaiian musician in Hawai’i. All of those things made it an easy decision: I HAD TO SHOW UP AND SAY, “YES!”

I arranged a trip so that I could be on Oʻahu for the festival and then planned to head to Molokai to spend some time with Pops and the ohana.

Once those plans were in place, all sorts of additional opportunities presented themselves–including opportunities to do some press for the festival as well as a chance to sing on Pakele Live!

The trip turned out to be the adventure of a lifetime. Here’s the story:

Good morning, Oʻahu! Aloha kakahiaka! (1.6.12)

I hadn’t been on Oʻahu in years.

Well, that is, if you don’t count the quick stop at the Honolulu International Airport where I’d make a mad dash from one side of the airport to the other to catch a flight to Molokai. Ever since Pops took me under his wing, my first responsibility has been studying on Molokai. So that’s been my primary “Hawaiian experience” since 2008.

But this time, I went from baggage claim to a cab to meet up with one of my best friends, Lisette Kaualena Flanary. She moved from NYC to Oʻahu last year to teach at University of Hawaiʻi. I planned to stay with her while I was on island and then head to Molokai after the festival.

As luck would have it, I’d arrived during the evening rush hour which meant TONS of cars on the road and long periods of sitting still. (This was definitely NOT Molokai where there isn’t even a single traffic light on the entire island!) I took advantage of the gridlock and made use of the time.

Taking a deep breath, I sat back and thought about the wild twists and turns that had lead me to that moment.

When Lisa first asked me to be a part of the festival, I knew I had to do it. But I was worried: would a dude with an ʻukulele who sings traditional/old-school Hawaiian music be enough to satisfy music-hungry festival goers?

And then I’d remembered something amazing: my good buddy, Andy Wang was going to be on Oʻahu at the same time! Andy and I both share Hawaiian music in NYC. (And he’s also an accomplished slack key guitar player. Bonus!) It was a sign! It had to be, right? I’d asked him if he’d join me for the JCCH’s festival and he was available! Phew! A duo instead of a solo act! (And he’d also agreed to be a part of the Pakele Live! show. But more on that soon…)

Because I had a few days on Oʻahu before the actual festival, the folks at the JCCH asked me if I’d be willing to do some press for the event. And you KNOW that I agreed to do that! It’s always fun to share some Aloha. And I thought it would interesting to represent Hawaiian music and culture as a dude from the East Coast–no Hawaiian blood, but a heart full of Aloha. An opportunity to show folks that Hawaiian music and culture exist beyond the islands’ shores.

Lisette greeted me at her building’s entrance with a beautiful white orchid lei.

Looking at the delicate white flowers, I was reminded that I was definitely in the islands. And all of the stress that had been building up since I’d booked the trip–all of the nerves and jitters–finally started to fall away.

We went out to have a fantastic dinner and then back to her apartment for some serious “catching up.” I couldn’t wait to hear all about her new life in Hawaiʻi. And she wanted to hear all about the gang “back home” in NYC.

As we sat in her living room, I developed a cough.

Strange. It was like there was something stuck in my throat. I attributed it to the change in climate–surely my body was just reacting to being back in the warm tropics, right?

After we’d talked ourselves silly, it was time to go to sleep. As I was lying in my bed, I could feel a bit of tension starting to creep back into my body as I went over the itinerary. But I tried to tell myself to relax. It would all be fine.

I’d made it safely to Oʻahu. Andy was already on island. Sure, I still had no idea what we would be singing. Or what the “press opportunities” I’d agreed to do would be like. But it didn’t really matter. We’d create something wonderful. It wasn’t about us. It was about the music. It was about honoring the traditions of those that came before us.

And besides… there was plenty of time to worry. I didn’t have to be anywhere until the following evening at 5pm where I’d do a 30-mintue interview/performance on KZOO AM1210–Honolulu’s Japanese language radio station. (How was I going to do a 30-minute interview when I don’t speak a word of Japanese??)

My mind grew blurry and I fell asleep with a warm breeze blowing through the open window.

When I woke up in the morning–EARLY because Hawaii is currently 5 hours behind Easter Standard Time–I could tell something wasn’t right.

My throat didn’t exactly hurt, but it was a bit raw from coughing through the night. And my lungs felt like they had water trapped in them.

I coughed. Nothing. I coughed, again. Nothing.

I coughed harder and my lungs expelled something–well–otherworldly. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say I now understand the expression “I must have swallowed a frog.” Gross!

I opened my mouth to sing and the voice that came out wasn’t my own. It sounded like someone had taken my vocal cords and rubbed them with sandpaper. (Those of you who are old enough to remember the raspy-voiced actor Brenda Vaccaro will know what I mean.)

OH NO!

I’d come 5,000 miles to sing–to make my debut as a Hawaiian singer in Hawaiʻi–and now I didn’t have a voice? How was this possible?

I knew I needed to gargle with some warm salt water. But that didn’t help.

I knew I needed to get some blood pumping in my body. So I threw on some clothes and headed out into the Honolulu sun in search of a drugstore and a health food store for some first-aid.

I stocked up on fresh orange juice, throat lozenges and herbal remedies that my friends suggested.

And then my phone rang.

“Hello?” I barked. It sounded as though I was talking through a piece of crackly celophane.

“Hi, um… is this Jason?” The voice on the other end of the line sounded confused. And why shouldn’t they be confused? I sounded like a giant toad!

She continued, “This is Denise from the Japanese Cultural Center.” And then she asked a few questions, trying to arrange an opportunity for us to meet up prior to the KZOO interview later that day.

“Um… I’m not far from the Center. How ’bout I come over and say ‘Aloha!’” I suggested. I figured if they could see me–and see that I’m not some raspy-voiced crazy man–they might not regret asking me to come and be the headline entertainment for their New Year’s Ohana Festival.

Walking past Mōʻiliʻili Field, where they were setting up the stage for the weekend’s festivities, my mind was racing.

Dennis Kamakahi recently collaborated with another artist on a stunningly beautiful album called WAIMAKA HELELEI. What is the name of the other artist?

A. Stephen Inglis

B. Raiatea Helm

C. John Keawe

D. Robin Kneubuhl

• Please submit your answer by posting a reply to this entry on the blog.
• All correct answers will be eligible to win a special email message from me.
• One winner will be randomly chosen at 11:59pm HST.

Will YOU be this week’s lucky winner?

Good Luck!

Aloha Poʻalima! Happy Aloha Friday!

** Crooner Update: Y’all are amazing!

Yes! Everyone had the correct answer this week!

The answer is A. Stephen Inglis.

Does that mean that mean that some of you might even have the album? Have you heard the beautiful music that these two masterful musicians recorded? So nahenahe!

And this week’s winner, chosen randomly from all of the correct answers by the technology at www.random.org is… (Drum roll, please…) BARBARA WAY! Congrats, Ms Barbara! You are this week’s Trivia Super Star!

I’m happy that so many of you played along in the challenge this week! And I hope you’ll take the ALOHA FRIDAY TRIVIA CHALLENGE next week, too!

Aloha kākou!

I always have my iPod with me. It’s my personal jukebox.

Living in New York City, I spend a lot of time traveling underground via subway–and those rides can be long and boring! But having a collection of great music with me at all times keeps me from losing my mind. I can escape to a tropical isle with the push of a button. Portable paradise!

Here are the TOP 5 SONGS from my iPod this week:

Ok. I’ve had this song (and Uncle Kawai’s recording of it!) on my TOP 5 before.

Wanna know why?

Because I love it! I mean I think Uncle Kawai’s version of this song (which is one of my all-time favorites) is outta this world!

Most often, I think this song is associated with a female singer. At least that’s been my experience. And the lyrics mention tears wetting the singer’s cheeks–and all too often, tears are associated with women instead of men. (*Crooner Note: Men cry, too!)

But when Uncle Kawai sings this song–wow… So tender and yet so masculine. So AWESOME.

The classic song, attributed to Kimo Kamana, speaks of the tuberose flower and its delicate fragrance. It’s not hard to infer that perhaps the kaona in this song is describing a beloved–an unforgettable love.

Raitea’s voice and the simple, almost understated accompaniment are a perfect combination for this lovely song. I can see a hula being danced to it when I close my eyes and listen…

A favorite hula to play and sing, I love how Uncle George Kahumoku sings this, with Daniel’s sparkling ʻukulele in the background, dancing around Uncle George’s masterful ki hoalu (slack key) stylings!

The song, attributed to Charles Nāmāhoe, is a lovely song of affection. And it’s a favorite of so many hula dancers. Musicians, this is good one to know!